NFT: Man Up: Approach Supplements with Caution

This has been discussed and debated over the years. The safety of OTC Supplements. Some believe the supplements are healthy while others have questioned supplements.

Samadi gives his two cents below


Gain 5 pounds in 5 days.” “Get jacked.” “All about testosterone!”

Sounds great, right? Of course. But are the promises of these supplements sheer fantasy? I get it, as men, we’re competitive. We want to lift the heaviest weights, run the fastest and have the best sex.

Unfortunately, an estimated 47% of American men are looking to dietary supplements as the magical potion that will grant these wishes. Over the past few years, we’ve seen many supplement brands outed for potentially stuffing these pill bottles with unknown, unlabeled, untested ingredients.

Man's Obsession with Body-Building Supplements

American men have an obsession for pills and potions that grant more muscle and improve sex lives. But are they considering the risks carefully enough? Did you know supplement makers can say pretty much anything when it comes to their products as long as they’re not claiming it prevents, cures or treats the disease? With their carefully chosen words, promises are made that cannot be kept.

Muscle-Building Supplements May Increase Testicular Cancer Risk

This week, a new study revealed taking muscle-building supplements containing Creatine, protein and Androstenedione increased the risk of testicular cancer —the most common cancer in men ages 15-35— by 300%. Researchers found that young men who took these supplements more than once per week were at a higher risk. While what causes testicular cancer remains a mystery, men should consider this a warning.

The second warning we received this week came directly from the FDA regarding TRI-Methyl Xtreme, a supplement sold from a Las Vegas company, that may contain anabolic steroids, potentially causing liver damage. Synthetic steroids like this one can cause irreversible side effects like an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

What's Really in these Supplements?

The bigger question remains: What’s really in these supplements? Over the last decade, some brands have been accused of containing steroids and big surprise, the products most likely to be “spiked” are specifically used for weight loss, body building and sexual enhancement — all things men typically want.

Does the FDA Regulate How Supplements are Produced

My second question is does the FDA regulate these nutritional supplements closely enough? We know the FDA considers these boosters “food” not “drugs,” leading supplement manufacturers to potentially run wild when it comes to the ingredients found in these products. If they’re not held up to the same standard as pharmaceuticals, what is the standard, when we’re not always sure of the ingredients? This continues to concern me. The FDA has struggled for years to crack down on dietary supplements that may be spiked with prescription drugs. In fact, in recent years, some lawmakers have challenged the FDA to make changes in how they regulate supplements.

Supplement Ingredients May Be Steroid-Like

The herculean mentality among men in this country could cause real health problems that we may not even be aware of yet. The potentially harmful ingredients found in this study have quite alarming side effects. Androstenedione or “Andro” claims to increase testosterone but scientists have shown it actually converts to estrogen— the main hormone in women, causing testicles to shrink and decreasing sperm count.

Creatine, the other potentially harmful ingredient, “supposedly” helps muscles release energy, in order to bulk up. I would argue, this ingredient is particularly dangerous because of its accessibility through powders, tablets and energy bars available without a doctor’s prescription, contrary to Andro. Taking too much Creatine can cause kidney and liver damage, anxiety and fatigue. Although weight gain may be what you’re going after, it may just be due to water retention, increasing the risk of dehydration, which can cause a whole slew of other issues.

Supplements: Miracle Makers?

Many so-called “miracle maker supplements” have been debunked. Vitamin E, or what we call Selenium, may cause prostate cancer, DHEA long thought to increase testosterone affects good cholesterol levels. And finally, a dietary supplement called Yohimbe had men running to the shelves due to its claims of finally being the “natural” way to cure erectile dysfunction. But of course, it was disproven.

My advice to young men out there, ask yourself if the risks (many of them unknown) are worth the gains you’re getting from these supplements. I believe our culture is feeding young men with these messages about being the biggest and strongest, only enhancing the pressure they feel to turn to these supplements. Be your own advocate. You can have the biggest muscles and the best sex life, but if you don’t have your health, none of that matters.

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